Help! My Dog Ate Chocolate. What do I do?
There is no denying that chocolate is a tasty treat. However, our four-legged friends should stay away from it. You may be wondering what happens if your dog eats chocolate. In any case of chocolate ingestion, dog owners need to be concerned. This article will outline some of the symptoms of chocolate consumption in dogs and the steps you need to take to ensure optimal health and safety.
Chocolate is very poisonous to dogs. The main chemical in chocolate is called theobromine, a toxic component. Fact: semi-sweet and dark chocolate have the highest amounts of theobromine, whereas little as two ounces can be fatal to a small dog. The symptoms of chocolate consumption in dogs include:
- Agitation
- Shaking
- Hyperactivity
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Increased body temperature
- Can result in death if not treated quickly
Contact your veterinarian immediately if your dog has eaten chocolate. It is helpful to estimate how much chocolate your dog ingested. If you cannot bring your dog to the vet’s office within the first few hours of chocolate ingestion, call your vet, who may instruct you on how to care for your dog at home. If you go to the veterinarian, they will induce vomiting right away. Some clinics use hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting, but other methods are available. Activated charcoal may also be administered to help coat the inside of your dog’s gastrointestinal tract to prevent the absorption of the theobromine in its bloodstream. Sedatives may also help lower your dog’s heart rate.
Dogs cannot metabolize theobromine as humans do, which is why chocolate is toxic for dogs. The severity of the toxicity will depend on the dog’s weight and how much chocolate it ingests. One of the best ways to prevent issues like this is to be proactive. Ensure that chocolate is out of reach for your dog!
